Looking to add a splash of greenery and color to your freshwater tank? You are at the right place. Live plants are the best way to add vibrant life to your aquarium while also benefiting the ecosystem. Not only do they enhance the beauty of your tank, but they also help improve water quality and create a natural environment. They absorb excess nutrients, participate in the nitrogen cycle, and provide oxygen for your fish through photosynthesis.
Live plants can transform a simple freshwater tank into an exotic underwater landscape where vibrant fish and fresh plants coexist. They serve as a stunning aesthetic addition to your living room, drawing attention and creating a focal point.
Choosing the right aquatic plants and following the correct procedure for optimal growth and maintenance is important. Let's dive into how to grow live plants in a freshwater tank to transform your aquarium into a lush, colorful paradise!
Choose the Right Plants
When it comes to growing live plants in a freshwater tank, choosing the right plants is the key. Select plants that are well-suited for a freshwater tank. The most popular plants include:
Rhizome Plants
Rhizome plants have a root-like structure that grows horizontally, from which the leaves and stems grow upwards. You can either plant them between the cracks in rocks or bury their roots at the base of the tank without covering them with the substrate. The common rhizome plants are Anubias, Java Fern, Java Moss, Bolbitis, etc.
Sword and Crypt Plants
The beautiful sword and crypt plants have broad, long leaves that grow in a circular pattern from the base. You can plant them by burying their roots in the substrate but don't cover the crown. The popular sword plants are Amazon swords, Brazilian Swords, and Melon swords, and the crypt plants are Cryptocoryne wendtii, Cryptocoryne spiralis, and Cryptocoryne parva.
Moss Plant
Moss plants are common and versatile live plants. They grow in clusters and give the tank a lush green appearance. You can easily secure them to tank surfaces like driftwood or rocks using thread or glue. Well-known examples include Java Moss, Christmas Moss, Weeping Moss, Flame Moss, and Phoenix Moss.
Aquarium Grass
Aquarium grass species are the best option for creating natural carpet-like effects in the foreground. You can plant it by burying the roots in the substrate and leaving the base uncovered. It propagates easily and spreads throughout the aquarium, creating a vibrant green oasis. Examples include Vallisneria, Marsilea Minuta, Flame Moss, Dwarf Sagittaria and Micro Sword.
Stem Plants
Stem plants are live plants with a single stem that grows straight up, and their leaves spread out around the stem like a cone. To plant them, bury the base about 2-3 inches deep in the substrate, ensuring the substrate covers the base securely. Some common examples include Rotala, Pogostemon, Water Wisteria, Ludwigia, Pearl Weed, Bacopa, and many more.
Bulb or Tuber Plants
They are unusual live plants that grow from bulbs or tubers, giving them an exotic appearance and making them a beautiful centerpiece in larger tanks. You can grow it by planting it in the substrate after removing dirt or rock wool from the bulbs/tubers. The common plants include Tiger Lotus, Dwarf Lily, Onion Plant, Banana Plant, Aponogeton, etc.
Carpeting Plants
Carpeting plants are a type of foreground plant that gives a lush green carpet-like appearance to cover the aquarium ground. Their roots are weak; therefore, it's best to plant them in a pot or at least with rock wool in the substrate. The common examples include Monte Carlo and Dwarf Baby Tears like Dwarf Sagittaria, Micro Sword, and Dwarf Hair Grass.
Floating plants
Floating plants, as the name suggests, float on the water surface, giving the freshwater tank a beautiful and vibrant look. You can easily plant them by placing them on the water surface and ensuring they get proper light and liquid fertilizers. The common floating plants are Frogbit, Dwarf Water Lettuce, Duckweed, and Water Sprite.
Use Nutrient-Rich Substrate
A good substrate is not just a bottom layer but a powerhouse that helps plant roots and absorb nutrients. Choose nutrient-rich substrates like gravel mixed with clay and a layer under the gravel for growing healthy live plants. Make sure it's at least 2-3 inches deep to allow space for root growth. You can also use root tabs for nutrients. Have a look at some of the most common types of nutrient-rich substrates:
Gravel: Gravel is the most common and versatile choice to use as a nutrient rich source. It promotes water flow and is extremely easy to clean. However, Gravel alone is not nutrient-rich so combine it with root tabs or an underlayer of nutrient-rich soil.
Sand: Fine sand is another nutrient-rich substrate, especially for plants with delicate root systems. It is known for its low maintenance and clean nature. You can supplement it with root fertilizer tabs to provide the required nutrients and create a natural look.
Aqua Soil: Specially formulated for planted tanks, it contains essential nutrients for root-feeding plants. It helps maintain a stable pH in the tank and promotes plant growth and health. Examples include ADA Aqua soil and Fluval Stratum.
Set Up Proper Lighting
Just like every other plant, even live plants in a freshwater tank require enough light to photosynthesize. Therefore, invest in a good-quality aquarium light that provides the spectrum and intensity needed for plant growth. Different plants have different light requirements: low, medium, or high. So, make sure to research your plant species and find out how much light it requires.
Generally, for low-light plants, 1-2 watts per gallon may be sufficient, while medium to high-light plants need 3-5 watts per gallon. LED or fluorescent lights are best for freshwater tanks because they are energy efficient and offer a broad spectrum. You can start with 7-10 hours of daily light, which can later be adjusted as per the plant's response.
Maintain Water Quality
To ensure that live plants grow and thrive properly, maintain the water quality as per their requirements.
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pH: Most freshwater plants prefer a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.5–7.8).
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Temperature: For most freshwater plants, keep the tank temperature between 72–78°F (22–26°C).
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Regular water changes (around 10-30% weekly) help maintain water quality and remove excess nutrients and organic waste.
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Algae: Algae compete with aquarium plants for light and nutrients, impacting tank and plant growth. Add herbivorous aquatic life or use an algae scraper weekly to remove it.
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Current: Keep the water current of the aquarium slow and calm.
Provide Adequate CO2
Everyone knows plants require CO2 for photosynthesis. When a freshwater tank has fish along with plants, the CO2 levels are already good, but only for low-tech plants. For heavily planted tanks, you must add extra CO2 to ensure photosynthesis and optimal plant growth. Additional CO2 can be added via injections and liquid carbon supplements. Make sure to check the CO2 levels to maintain a balanced environment for both live plants as well as fishes.
Fertilize Regularly
Live plants require various nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, iron, manganese, etc., to grow properly and maintain good health. You can add fish-safe, iron-based fertilizers to enhance your plant growth and vitality. Remember not to over-fertilize, as it can cause algae growth. The best way to fertilize correctly is using the recommended dose mentioned on the product packet. After that, observe your plants and see if there are any signs of deficiency. If there are yellow leaves or slow growth, it means they require more fertilization.
You can choose from different types of fertilizers, such as liquid fertilizers, tablet fertilizers, and CO2 injections. Liquid fertilizers are easy and suitable for different plant types, whereas tablet fertilizers are best for heavy-root plants. You can also add fluorite directly to the substrate to provide iron.
Prune and Trim Plants
Pruning and trimming are crucial to ensure that plants look neat, well-shaped, and healthy. Regularly prune dead or overgrown parts of the plants to ensure proper growth and prevent excess decay in the tank. You can remove dead or dying leaves by cutting them at the base using scissors. Additionally, make sure to trim your plants evenly from time to time to maintain the desired shape and height. Replant cuttings, remove the bottom leaves, trim the roots, and plant them back into the substrate to regrow.
Conclusion
Live plants add depth and natural beauty to the freshwater tank, making it a beautiful piece of living art. The interplay of light, water, fish, and the gentle sway of live plants creates an unparalleled display of natural beauty. To grow live plants, firstly, choose the right aquatic plants from the list mentioned above. Then, add nutrient-rich substrate, set up the lighting, maintain water quality, provide CO2, add fertilizers, and finally prune and trim them for an aesthetic look.
